Misteri Fraser 1910 Hits Cinemas June 26

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) —The mysterious disappearance of Scottish pioneer Louis James Fraser in 1910—at a site now known as Fraser’s Hill in Raub, Pahang—has been reimagined for the big screen in Misteri Fraser 1910, a historical horror film set to premiere on June 26.

Producer Elani Aidid said the idea for the film came about while scouting for a filming location at the hill resort in 2019.

“While we were there, we came across the story of Mr Fraser, who mysteriously vanished after discovering a tin ore deposit in the area and was never found again. In fact, some of the hiking trails there are named after individuals involved in the search for him, such as the ‘Bishop Trail’ and ‘Abu Suradi Trail’.

“That sparked the idea for me to research and create a fictional theory behind his disappearance, which eventually led to the making of this film,” she said in a statement today.

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She added that besides being a popular tourist spot, Fraser’s Hill also holds its share of mysteries—including the disappearance of the Scottish pioneer.  

According to Elani, Mr Fraser’s disappearance makes for a compelling film subject, as his story is well-known and frequently searched online both locally and abroad.

However, she noted that the film is only inspired by the true events that took place 115 years ago, and has been fictionalised based on her own research, local accounts, and commercial elements to make it suitable for cinema.

“What I can say is that 50 per cent of the film is based on true events, while the other 50 per cent is fiction. The screenplay was funded by the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) under its Script Development Grant,” she said.

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Elani noted that the film’s uniqueness lies not only in its horror elements but also in its historical appeal, transporting viewers to the classic world of 1910 with period-accurate dialogue, costumes, and props.

She also shared that Misteri Fraser 1910 was recently named Best First-Time Filmmaker at the Lift-Off Global Network Sessions Vol 4 held at Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom, where it competed against 26 films from various countries.

The film received the highest number of votes at the festival, held from April 21 to May 4, with the votes coming from international viewers.

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“In addition to winning at that festival, we’ve also submitted the film to 32 other international competitions. The most recent is a festival in Russia, scheduled for September,” she added.

Misteri Fraser 1910 follows the mysterious disappearance of Louis James Fraser, whose car was found abandoned by the roadside near a forested area. His whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

Starring Josiah Hogan as Mr Fraser, the film also features a cast of popular local actors including Amai Kamarudin, Siti Hariesa, Isyariana, Erry Putra, and many more.

-- BERNAMA